Attachment for bedsteads.



PATENTED OCT. 24,1905.

H. E. HENWOOD. ATTACHMENT FOR BEDSTEADS.

APPLIOATION FILED APR.29.1905.

h SHEEN-SHEET 1.

III/VENTOR j oflzcezjfeizwo ad ATTORNEYS HORACE E. HENWOOD, OF NEW YQRK, N. Y.

ATTACHMENT FOR BEDSTEADS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 24, 1905.

Application filed April 29, 1905. Serial No. 258,038.

To all whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that I, HORACE E. HENWOOD, a subject of the King of Great Britain, and a resident of the city of New York, borough of Manhattan, in the county and State of New York, have invented a new and Improved Attachment for Bedsteads, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

My invention relates to attachments for bedsteads, and particularly to those adapted for the raising of invalids from the mattress or other supporting-surface. Its principal obect is to provide such an attachment which may be applied to an ordinary bedstead without rendering it necessary to alter the bed structure itself, this application being capable of accomplishment without the use of tools.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification, in which like characters of reference indicate like parts in the several views.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of my invention applied to a bedstead. Fig. 2 is an enlarged broken side elevation of the winch-supporting clamp. Fig. 3 is a horizontal section on the line 3 3 of Fig. 2. Fig. 4: is a transverse vertical section on the line 4; 4 of Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is an enlarged detail, in side elevation, of one of the clamps for a supporting-roll. Fig. 6 is a horizontal section on the line 6 6 of Fig. 5, and Fig. 7 is a transverse vertical section on the line 7 7 of Fig. 5.

A designates a bedstead, which is here shown as of the metal type and having pairs of head and foot posts or uprights 10 10 and 1]. 11, respectively, connected by frame-bars 12. Upon these bars may be supported in the usual manner a spring or bed bottom which carries a mattress 13.

Mounted upon the upper portion of each of the head and foot posts and also upon the latter below the bed-frame are clamps B, each comprising pairs of members 14 14, which are curved to conform to the posts and which are hinged at 15. From the adjacent ends of these members opposite the hinges project extensions 16, which, as illustrated, are of semicylindrical form and have between them and opening outwardly from the body of the clamp a recess 17, which is preferably divided between the two extensions. Through these extensions upon opposite sides of the recess are vertical openings 18 to receive the arms 19 19 of a generally U-shaped key 20. From the connecting portion of the key rises a finger-piece 21, by which it may be conveniently manipulated. Thematerial of the keys is such that the arms may spring somewhat, and they preferably have rounded ends, as is indicated at 22, which facilitate their introduction into the extension-openings. Vv'ith the keys removed the clamps are placed about the uprights, as is illustrated in Fig. 1 of the drawings, with their recesses in alinement with one another and receiving journal portions 23 of supporting-rolls 24:. The keys are now forced into the openings and by their tension serve to draw the clamp members into engagement with the uprights to hold them firmly in place. The head-posts also carry below the frame clamps C U. Each of these has pairs of members 25 25, hinged at 26, and generally similar in form to the members 14, previously described; but instead of the semicylindrical extensions they are provided with flattened extensions 27, which are sufficiently separated from one another to receive blocks 28. Each of the blocks is provided with pairs of dowelpins 29, projecting from it at each side, these pins entering alined openings 29 in the extensions 27. One of these pins of one of the blocks is extended at 30 beyond the clamp for the purpose which will be hereinafter stated. At the outer ends of the extensions 27 are depressions to receive keys 31, which may be generally similar in shape to the keys 20, previously described. Instead, however, of a finger-piece at the upper end each of these is provided with an eye 32, which may be connected by a chain 33 with an eye 34, carried by one of the clamp extensions, thus retaining the key in proximity to the clamp at all times. In assembling these clamps 0 upon the posts the blocks, which project beyond the ends of the extensions, are placedparallel to one another in alinement with the side bars of the frame and receive journal portions 35 of a winch-roll 36, these journal portions being rotatable in openings in the blocks. The application of the keys 31 is the same as those, 20, hereinbefore described. Carried by one end of the winch-roll, adjacent to the pin 30, is a ratchet-wheel 37, with which cooperates a pawl 38 to retain the winch against rotation in one direction. The end of the journal portion outside this ratchet-wheel is squared at 39 to receive a crank 40, by which the winch may be rotated.

Through the winch-roll, near its ends, are transverse openings or slots 41, conveniently two in number, which have passing through them flexible members or straps 42, which are self-adjusting within the roll-slots or are free to move in either direction. From the Wincl roll each strap passes upwardly over the supporting-roll at the head of the bedstead and depends at the other side thereof. In the opposite direction each strap runs from the winch-roll beneath the bedbottom,then about the outer portion of the lower supporting-roll carried by the foot-posts, and finally over the upper supporting-roll. After the passage of the straps over these upper rolls they are connected to a stretcher-frame 43. Each of the straps is divided at some convenient point and has attached to one of the ends a buckle 44, the tongue of which may engage one of a series of openings 45 in the adjacent end, thus enabling the tension of the straps to be varied in use. The side bars of the stretcher-frame are hinged near their centers at %6 to enable them to be folded for storage and transportation. The frame may be locked in its extended position by sleeves 47, surrounding the side bars, and which may be moved to encircle the hinges. The frame 43 carries a supportingsurface 48, which may be of canvas or the like, conveniently secured in place by lashings or loops 49,extending through openings 49 near the edge of the canvas. Through this supportingsurface is formed an opening 50, through which access may be had to the patientor below which, upon the mattress, a vessel may be placed to receive excreta.

Pivoted upon each of the stretcher-frame side bars is a bar 52, preferably supported in vertical alinelnent with the bar to which it is connected. These are joined at their upper extremities by a cross-bar 53 and carry a filling 54, of canvas or the like, furnishing a back-rest for the patient. Pivoted upon each of the side bars of this rest is a supportingbar 55, connected at their outer ends by a cross-piece 56. This cross-piece may cooperate with series of teeth 57, carried by each of the stretcher side bars, thus serving to hold the rest at various angles.

My invention presents the capabilities usual in this class of apparatus. In addition it is desired to particularly call attention to its applicability to the ordinary bed structure witl out reorganization thereof. If one has occasion to use an invalid-bedstead, it is unnecessary to purchase the comparatively expensive apparatus commonly employed, but instead my attachment may be applied to abedstead already at hand, since the clamps thereof are made in different sizes to fit the standard dimensions of posts. The adaptation of a bedstead in this way is a very simple matter, the clamps being applied without requiring the use of wrenches, screw-drivers, or other tools.

In operation the crank is applied to the Squared portion of the winch-journal, and

upon rotating this the straps first adjust themselves through the openings and then as they encircle the Winch they simultaneously raise the ends of the stretcher-frame, moving over the supporting-rolls with but little resistance. As the ratchet-wheel rotates with the winch the pawl successively engages the teeth, locking the stretcher-frame in any position in which it may be desired to leave it. When the frame is to be lowered, the pawl is thrown back from the teeth and the winch allowed to rotate under the restraint of the crank until the frame has reached the proper position.

Having thus described my invention, 1 claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent- 1. The combination with a bedstead, of two sets of separable clamps embracing elements of the bedstead one set above and one below the bed-frame at opposite sides thereof, rolls extending between the clamps of each set, flexible members cooperating with the rolls, and a frame to which said members are connected.

2. The combination with abedstead, of pairs of hinged members embracing elements of the bedstead and having extensions, blocks situated between the extensions, means for drawing the extensions toward one another, a roll journaled in the blocks, flexible members cooperating with the roll, and a frame to which said members are connected.

3. The combination with abedstead, of pairs of hinged members embracing elements of the bedstead and having extensions provided with alined openings, blocks situated between the extensions, pins projecting from the blocks into the extension-openings, a roll journaled upon the extensions, flexible members coopcrating with the roll, and a frame to which said members are connected.

4. The combination with a bedstead, of pairs of hinged members embracing elements of the bedstead and having extensions provided with alined openings, blocks situated between the extensions, pins projecting from the blocks into the extension-openings, a roll journaled upon the extensions and having ratchet-teeth, a pawl pivoted upon one of the pins and engaging the ratchet-teeth, flexible members cooperating with the roll, and a frame to which said members are connected.

5. The combination with a bedstead, of pairs of hinged members embracing elements of the bedstead and having extensions provided with pairs of openings, keys having arms extending into the openings, rolls rotatable in the extensions, flexible members cooperating with the rolls, and a frame to which said members are connected.

6. The combination with a bedstead, of clamps having extensions provided with alined openings, blocks situated between the extensions, pins projecting from the blocks into the extension-openings, a roll journaled upon IOC IIC

ITS

said blocks, flexible memberscooperating' with l flexible members cooperating with the roll, the roll, and a frame to which said members and a frame with which said members are are connected. connected.

7. The combination withabedstead, of pairs In testimony whereofl have signed my name 5 of separable clamps embracing parts of the to this specificationin the presence of two subbedstead and having extensions, blocks bescribingwitnesses.

tween the extensions of the clamp and having l interlocking engagement therewith, a. roll HORALE journaled in the blocks and having ratchet- Witnesses:

teeth, a pawl pivoted to an extension of one J NO. M. BITTER,

of the clamps and engaging the ratchet-teeth, SYLVANUS H. COBB. 

